Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— यद्यप्यसुरराजस्य पुर्यां प्रतिनिकेतनम्। यज्ञयागादिकर्माणि नाह्रीयन्त दिने दिने॥१॥
Brahmā said: Although sacrifices, offerings, and other rites were performed day after day in every dwelling of the Asura king's city,
Passage 2
गृहे गृहे देवपूजामतिथीनां तथार्चनम्। ब्राह्मणानां पुरस्कारं राक्षसा अपि कुर्वते॥२॥
and although the Rākṣasas worshiped the gods in every home, honored guests, and showed distinction to Brahmins,
Passage 3
तथापि तामसो धर्मस्तेषामत्युग्रमानिनाम्। स्वाध्यायः संयमो दानं सर्वमेतेषु तामसम्॥३॥
the religion of those fiercely arrogant beings was nevertheless tāmasic. Their study, restraint, and charity were all governed by darkness.
Passage 4
धर्मस्य प्रभवो विष्णुः स एवेषां पराङ्मुखः। तत्कुतोऽस्त्वमला बुद्धिरमीषां घोरकर्मणाम्॥४॥
Viṣṇu is the source of dharma, yet they had turned away from him. How, then, could these performers of dreadful deeds possess pure understanding?
Passage 5
हिंसाप्रायो मखश्चैषामर्थः कामान्न हीतरः। धर्मः कामैकफलको मोक्षं चैते न जानते॥५॥
Their sacrifices were largely violent, and they recognized no aim beyond wealth and desire. Their dharma bore sensual enjoyment as its only fruit, and they knew nothing of liberation.
Passage 6
सत्त्वं स्वप्नेऽपि नामीषां यल्लिङ्गं नियतं हरेः। रजस्तमोमयी वृत्तिः स्वार्थोन्मूलितसत्पथाः॥६॥
Not even in dreams did they possess sattva, which is invariably the mark of Hari. Their conduct consisted of passion and darkness, and self-interest had uprooted the good path.
Passage 7
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभो हिंसामोहो मदस्तथा। मात्सर्यं भूतविद्रोहः स्वभावादेषु सर्वदा॥७॥
Desire, anger, greed, violence, delusion, pride, envy, and hostility toward living beings were always present in them by nature.
Passage 8
इत्थं धर्मोऽपि तामस्या वृत्त्या केवलया किल। बाधितप्राय एवेषां तेनाधर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः॥८॥
Thus even their religion was almost wholly overwhelmed by tāmasic conduct, and adharma became firmly established among them.
Passage 9
दम्भेन क्रियतेऽमीभिर्धर्मश्चान्यवञ्चनहेतवे। तमःस्वभावाद्वृत्तिस्तु सात्त्विकी नैव दृश्यते॥९॥
They practiced religion hypocritically in order to deceive others. Because darkness was their nature, no sāttvic conduct could be seen in them.
Passage 10
इत्यधर्मपथाधिष्ठैरमीभिरखिलं जगत्। अत्याकुलीकृतमभूत्सदेवनरकिन्नरम्॥१०॥
Established upon the path of adharma, they threw the whole world—gods, humans, and Kinnaras included—into extreme distress. Brahmā Leads the Gods to Viṣṇu
Passage 11
अथ भूमीभरं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा लोकहितैषणः। पुरस्ताच्छक्रसर्वादीन् कृत्वा क्षीराम्बुधेस्तटे॥११॥
Then Brahmā, desiring the welfare of the worlds, saw the burden upon the earth and led Śakra and all the other gods to the shore of the Milk Ocean.
Passage 12
श्वेतद्वीपं ययौ विष्णोः स्थानं यत्र मनोरमम्। यत्र स्वयं स भगवाननिरुद्धो विराजते॥१२॥
He went to Śvetadvīpa, Viṣṇu's delightful abode, where the Lord himself shines as Aniruddha.
Passage 13
शेषशायी जगन्नाथो लक्ष्म्या नित्यं निषेवितः। सुपर्णविश्वक्सेनाद्यैः पार्षदैश्च समन्वितः॥१३॥
The Lord of the universe reclines upon Śeṣa, eternally attended by Lakṣmī and accompanied by Garuḍa, Viṣvaksena, and his other attendants.
Passage 14
सनकाद्यैर्महायोगिवरेण्यैः सममिष्टुतः। मूर्तिमत्या तथा त्रय्या महोपनिषदां गणैः॥१४॥
He is praised by Sanaka and the other eminent great yogins, by the threefold Veda embodied, and by the hosts of the great Upaniṣads.
Passage 15
समासव्यासयोगेन मुनीन्द्रैर्नारदादिभिः। पृथक् पृथक् स्तुतयशा गुणैः सर्वैर्निषेवितः॥१५॥
Nārada and other foremost sages praise his glory, collectively and individually, in concise and expansive forms; every virtue attends him.
Passage 16
कल्याणपूर्णगुणको निर्दोषशुभविग्रहः। लोकरक्षाविधानार्थं सात्त्विकीं तनुमाश्रितः॥१६॥
Full of wholly auspicious qualities and possessing a faultless, blessed form, he assumes a sāttvic body to arrange the protection of the worlds.
Passage 17
भासा निर्मलया नित्यं द्योतिताशेषदिक्तटः। पूर्णचन्द्रमुखद्योतमञ्जुस्मितविराजितः॥१७॥
His stainless radiance forever illumines every horizon, and his full-moon face shines with a gentle smile.
Passage 18
लसत्किरीटकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितः। कर्णद्वयसमुद्दीप्तस्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलः॥१८॥
He is adorned with a gleaming crown, bracelets, girdle, and armlets, while radiant makara-shaped earrings flash at his two ears.
Passage 19
पीताम्बरधरः श्यामश्चतुर्भुजविराजितः। आयुधैः शङ्खचक्राद्यैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरुपासितः॥१९॥
Dark-hued and dressed in yellow cloth, he shines with four arms and is attended by his embodied weapons, including the conch and disc.
Passage 20
कौस्तुभोद्द्योतविध्वस्तमायामोहतमोमलः। प्रसादसुमुखो देवो भक्तानुग्रहकारकः॥२०॥
The brilliance of the Kaustubha dispels the impurity and darkness of illusion and delusion. The gracious-faced Lord bestows favor upon his devotees.
Passage 21
तत्र गत्वा कमलभूः सर्वदेवगणैर्वृतः। स्तुत्वा श्रीविष्णुसूक्ताद्यैश्चतुर्वेदनिगदितैः॥२१॥
Lotus-born Brahmā arrived there surrounded by all the hosts of gods and praised him with the Śrī and Viṣṇu hymns and other praises proclaimed in the four Vedas.
Passage 22
प्रसादसुमुखं ज्ञात्वा देवदेवं रमापतिम्। उपप्लवं राक्षसौघैर्जगतां संव्यजिज्ञपत्॥२२॥
Seeing that the God of gods, Ramā's husband, was graciously disposed, Brahmā reported in full the calamity the Rākṣasa hordes had brought upon the worlds. Brahmā's Appeal
Passage 23
ब्रह्मोवाच— देवदेव महाविष्णो शुद्धसत्त्वतनूर्जित। विज्ञातमेव सर्वं ते सर्वज्ञस्य जगत्प्रभोः॥२३॥
Brahmā said: “God of gods, great Viṣṇu, radiant in a body of pure sattva, everything is already known to you, the omniscient Lord of the universe.
Passage 24
अतो विज्ञापनं नाथ पुनरुक्तायते मम। तथापि प्रभवे वाच्यं भक्तेर्दुःखं स्वहृद्गतम्॥२४॥
“Therefore my report may seem repetitive, Lord. Nevertheless, a devotee must tell the sovereign the grief held within his heart.
Passage 25
साम्प्रतं खलु रक्षोभिः प्रबलैर्घोरदर्शनैः। जगद्विध्वंसितप्रायं भवता पाल्यते नु यत्॥२५॥
“At present powerful and dreadful-looking Rākṣasas have nearly destroyed the very world that you protect.
Passage 26
प्रतिकूलक्रिया एते राक्षसा भुवनद्रुहः। दशास्यबलमाश्रित्य न विद्मः किं चिकीर्षवः॥२६॥
“These world-hating Rākṣasas act in opposition to all that is good. Relying on ten-headed Rāvaṇa's power, we do not know what they may intend next.
Passage 27
त्रयी तु नाशितप्राया नाशिताः साग्नयो मखाः। अधर्मप्रचुरो लोकः कृत एव न संशयः॥२७॥
“The threefold Veda has nearly been destroyed; sacrifices and their fires have been extinguished. There is no doubt that the world has been filled with adharma.
Passage 28
परदारापहरणाः परद्रव्यापहारकाः। कन्यानां दूषका एते जगद्विध्वंसकाः खलाः॥२८॥
“These villains abduct others' wives, steal others' property, violate maidens, and lay waste to the world.
Passage 29
महीं रसातलं नेतुं प्रवृत्ताः पापबुद्धयः। प्रधान एषां लङ्केशः सोऽपि पापतमः खलः॥२९॥
“Their sinful minds are bent on dragging the earth down to Rasātala. Their leader, the lord of Laṅkā, is himself the most wicked of villains.
Passage 30
स निषेधति न स्वीयान् राक्षसान् पापकारिणः। सतां विद्रोहकान् पापान् जगत्सन्तापकारिणः॥३०॥
“He does not restrain his own sinning Rākṣasas, those wicked enemies of the good who bring torment upon the world.
Passage 31
अग्रेऽपि खलु दैतेयैरत्युग्रैः पापकर्मभिः। मग्नप्रायां महीं कृत्स्नामुद्धार भवान् प्रभो॥३१॥
“Formerly as well, when ferocious Daityas and their evil deeds had nearly submerged the whole earth, you lifted it up, Lord.
Passage 32
दत्तश्च नो वरः स्वामिन् भवता वरदेश्वर। एवं यदा यदा पीडा दानवैर्नो भविष्यति॥३२॥
“Master, supreme giver of boons, you also granted us this assurance: whenever the Dānavas bring suffering upon us,
Passage 33
धर्मग्लानिश्च नियतं तदा धास्ये तनुमहम्। शुद्धसत्त्वमयीं देवा हरिष्यामि च वः शुचम्॥३३॥
“and whenever dharma surely declines, I shall assume a body of pure sattva, O gods, and remove your grief.
Passage 34
अतो वयं सुविश्वस्ता भवन्तमखिलेश्वर। शरण्यं शरणं प्राप्ता दुःखं प्रतिविधेहि नः॥३४॥
“Trusting fully in this, universal Lord, we have come for refuge to you, the giver of refuge. Remove our suffering.
Passage 35
कमन्यं शरणं यामो भवन्तं रक्षकं विना। रक्षितव्या वयं नाथ प्रजाः स्वा निगमैः सह॥३५॥
“To whom else could we turn for refuge but you, our protector? Lord, preserve us, your own subjects, together with the Vedas.”
Passage 36
इत्युक्तवन्तं ब्रह्माणं भगवान् कमलापतिः। उद्भूतकरुणार्द्राक्षः प्रहस्येदमवोचत॥३६॥
As Brahmā spoke these words, the lotus goddess's Lord looked upon him with eyes moist from awakened compassion, smiled, and replied. Viṣṇu Promises the Rāma Incarnation
Passage 37
श्रीभगवानुवाच— पुरैव चिन्तितं ब्रह्मन् भवतामीप्सितं मया। अहं ह्यवतरिष्यामि रघुवंशस्य भूपतेः॥३७॥
The Lord said: “Brahmā, I have already considered what you desire. I shall descend as a son of the king of Raghu's line,
Passage 38
नाम्ना दशरथाह्वस्य धर्मपत्नीषु निश्चितम्। कृत्वा चतुर्धा रूपाणि वासुदेवादिभिः स्वयम्॥३८॥
“the ruler named Daśaratha. Dividing myself into four forms—Vāsudeva and the others—I shall certainly appear through his lawful wives.
Passage 39
अतो मामनुवर्तन्तां देवताः सकला अपि। याभिः सहाहं वर्तेयं भूतलेऽनन्यगोचरः॥३९॥
“Therefore let all the gods follow me, so that I may dwell with them upon the earth while remaining unrecognized by others.
Passage 40
मानवेषु विहङ्गेषु पशुषु प्लवगादिषु। अंशैरवतरन्त्वेते देवाः कार्यचिकीर्षवः॥४०॥
“Let these gods, intent on accomplishing the work, descend through portions of themselves among humans, birds, animals, monkeys, and other beings.
Passage 41
इन्द्रस्याग्नेर्यमस्यापि निर्ऋतेर्वरुणस्य च। वायोरथ कुबेरस्य रुद्रस्य तपनस्य च॥४१॥
“Let portions of Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera, Rudra, and the sun—
Passage 42
अन्येषां चापि देवानामंशाः प्रादुर्भवन्तु वै। अथाहमपि संयुक्तः स्वांशैर्यास्यामि भूतले॥४२॥
“and portions of the other gods as well—manifest there. Then I too, united with my own portions, shall go to the earth.”
Passage 43
इत्युक्त्वा भगवान् विष्णुर्ब्रह्मादीनमरोत्तमान्। व्यसर्जयत् प्रति दिवं नत्वा धामानि ते ययुः॥४३॥
Having spoken thus, Lord Viṣṇu dismissed Brahmā and the other foremost immortals. They bowed and returned through heaven to their own abodes.
Passage 44
ततो मानुषवपुषु प्लवगानां कुलेषु च। नानारूपधरा देवाः प्रादुरासुर्महीतले॥४४॥
Thereafter the gods appeared upon the earth in many forms, in human bodies and among the lineages of monkeys.
Passage 45
यैः सार्धं भगवान् हरिः प्रतिदिनं चिक्रीड लीलाद्भुतं रूपं बिभ्रदमेयशक्तिविभवो दुर्ज्ञेयतत्त्वो जनैः। ते देवाः कतिचिन्मनुष्यवपुषः केचित्कपीनां कुलेष्वन्ये पक्षिषु सम्बभूवुरितरे ऋक्षादियोनीः श्रिताः॥४५॥
With them Lord Hari would play each day, bearing a wondrous līlā-form, his boundless power and majesty impossible for ordinary people to comprehend. Some gods took human bodies, some were born in monkey lineages, others among birds, and still others entered the species of bears and other creatures. इति श्रीमदादिरामायणे ब्रह्मभुशुण्डसंवादे दक्षिणखण्डे राघवप्रार्थनं नाम षोडशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः॥ ११६ ॥ Thus ends Chapter 116, “The Prayer for Rāghava's Descent,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the venerable Ādi Rāmāyaṇa, in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi. --- Source Note - Source witness: Bhuśuṇḍi Rāmāyaṇa, Volume 2, Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa. - This chapter was collated directly from source leaves 424–427 (printed pages 397–400; physical PDF pages 425–428). - All 45 numbered passages are presented in order. Chapter 115 ends and Chapter 116 begins on physical PDF page 425; Chapter 116 ends and Chapter 117 begins on physical PDF page 428. - The edition glosses pratividhehi in passage 34 as “remove [our suffering].” Obvious word spacing and sandhi have been normalized without changing the source vocabulary. The English is a fresh, direct translation prepared for this edition.